PUEBLO, Colo. (April 9, 2016) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team won two crucial Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games Saturday against Adams State. The Pack cruised to a run-ruled 9-1 win in game one before stealing game two 7-6 in eight innings.
In the series opener, the teams battled to a scoreless game through three innings, managing three hits combined.
Adams State scored the games' first run in the top half of the fourth with CSU-Pueblo responding with its first run in the next half inning on an RBI-single by Michaela Burpee (Fr., Union City, Calif.).
Following a one-two-three top half of the fifth, the ThunderWolves offense erupted in their next at bat, plating eight runs on seven hits in the inning highlighted by two-run singles by Kennedy Smith (Jr., Fillmore, Calif.) and Moriah Turney (Jr., Brighton, Colo.).
RBI-singles by Burpee, Madison Wolfe (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.), Lexie Martindale (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.), and Vivian Ledesma (Fr., Colton, Calif.) each helped to secure the eight run-ruled victory.
Pack pitcher Hope Davalos (R-Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) had yet another effective outing in the circle, tossing five innings and allowed one run on two hits while striking out four to improve to 7-15 on the season.
In game two the visitors jumped to a 2-0 lead through the first three innings with the Pack offense earning just one hit in that span.
The ThunderWolves took their first lead of the game in the fourth on a three-run bomb hit to straightaway center field off the bat of Burpee for a 3-2 lead.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Grizzlies regained the lead putting up four runs on four hits in the frame and a 6-3 lead.
CSU-Pueblo responded with a solo shot by Wolfe in the sixth to cut into the lead 6-4. It is the seventh homerun this season for Wolfe.
ASU was retired in order in the top of the seventh.
In the final at bat, the ThunderWolves' first three batters reached base safe and following a groundout, set the stage for Wolfe to come through in the clutch, as she fought off a single up the middle allowing the tying runs to cross the plate and take the game into extra innings.
For ASU in the eighth, a single was quickly erased on a caught stealing throw out and two soft outs set the ThunderWolves up.
In the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and second and one out, Pack senior Dora Hernandez (Benton City, Wash.) hit a single to left, allowing Turney to reach third base and with smart base running and an errant throw by from the left fielder let Turney score the game winning run, 7-6 in favor of the Pack.
Burpee, Turney, and Wolfe each collected four hits on the day.
CSU-Pueblo (10-29, 9-19 RMAC) will look for the sweep of the Grizzlies Sunday with another doubleheader scheduled, beginning at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Softball Complex.
- 30 –
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
